Nature: A Tool for Balanced Living… Right at Your Fingertips

Posted on 12.19.14.

Those of you who know me are aware of my love of nature. Big Sur, beach walks, hikes, skiing… For me, Nature is a readily-available and effective tool which counterbalances the constant flow of non-nature that dominates our lives every day. Nature directly impacts our well-being in the food we eat, the water we drink, what we see and what we year. Yet it also has the power to inspire, heal and comfort.

Our tendency is to relegate nature experiences to the home or weekends, but why? Consider importing them into your workplace, your commute and other daily routines. Quality of life is there for the taking, wherever you are…. Actually, to be more accurate, quality of life is there for the making. It does take intent.

I am continuously amazed at how seemingly insignificant details, natural and otherwise, can affect the quality of everyday experiences. they can occur anywhere in life, at home, at work or while traveling. As I look around right now, here are a few cues for rebalancing that i see in my own lifestyle:

– a few bottles of home-made limoncello that sit on my kitchen windowsill

– three feathers picked up on a beach walk, intentionally placed on a side table

– the advent calendar from my childhood, that hangs in the entry,

– music that comes on each morning and afternoon… thanks to Sonos and Pandora,

– outdoor sounds that enter through a slightly opened window

To others, these might have zero effect. And that’s ok. For me, in my home, in my workplace, the power of these “nothings” is HUGE. For someone else, it might be a bowl of leftover mac ‘n cheese enjoyed at work or a favorite playlist on a business trip. Whether you are creating experiences at home or elsewhere, step one is to hone in on your Treasures and give them a stronger presence in your lifestyle. Make them part of your Campfires, and tend your Campfires so that they keep burning brightly.

A Word About Nature

It may seem trivial to talk about the impact of small gestures like filling a vase with flowers, walking on wood flooring or connecting to the outdoors through wide open windows, but it is not. When people and their living spaces are in step with the rhythms of nature, they become connected to the world in a profound way.”

(p. 56, Comfort Living: A Back-to-Basics Guide to a More Balanced Lifestyle)

2 Responses to “Nature: A Tool for Balanced Living… Right at Your Fingertips”

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